Top 10 Expert Cattle Race Design Tips

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1. Think from a Cow’s Eye View

"If we take a cow’s eye view … what do we see when we go into a solid-sided 180-degree curve? We see a wall, a large ‘bovine stop sign’"– Whit Hibbard, Bud Williams School of Stockmanship

2. Allow Cattle to See the Exit

"Any animal looking down the open straight [race leading to the] crush can see a clear escape route at the end" – Debbie Furber, Canadian Cattlemen

3. Give them Good Traction

"Cattle who feel unstable in their footing do not stay in the frame of mind to move calmly through a … system" – Hibbard

4. Use Back-Stops to Your Advantage

"Spring loaded, back-stop[s are] useful to prevent cattle from backing up" and rearing up in the race – Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University Extension

5. Place Race Gates Strategically

Well-placed "sliding gates so animals can’t back up make it safer when working around cattle", as they prevent cattle backing and control movement through your handling system – Cody Creelman, Veterinarian

6. Keep your Width in Check

"The width of [the] race varies depending on the size of cattle being processed. It should be wide enough for cattle to move forward without much resistance but not wide enough for them to turn around" – Dr. Justin Rhinehart, University of Tennessee Extension

7. Let the Cattle See You

"The natural behavior for a prey animal to avoid a predator is to move in the opposite direction when the predator passes by its shoulder. To move an animal forward, pass by its shoulder in the opposite direction at a quick walk" – Robert Borg, Alberta Agriculture

8. Move Uphill

"Cattle tend to move uphill easier than downhill. If there is a slope, point the race uphill" – Lewandowski

9. Prepare for Emergencies

"Emergency release panels are sections of the working race that can be removed or opened to let animals out that have fallen down and become stuck" – Dr. Tom R. Troxel & Dr. Shane Gadberry, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

10. Go Towards the Light

“Cattle … move best from dark areas to light areas. Facility layouts should be designed so that cattle do not look directly into the sun” – Lewandowski

Are there any race design tips we missed? Let us know in the comments!